I am a mid level officer in a marketing company. I oversee 5 other colleagues. One of them is a close relative of the owners/directors of the business. She is always loafing around; not doing her tasks or when she does, it is poorly done. At every opportunity she is pulling down the team with negative comments. Recently she has had four strong (and false) allegations against me with the aim of getting me sacked and taking my position - she is my deputy on our function.
All efforts to talk to her to do the right thing has failed, formal reports on her does not sail through to disciplinary committee as my boss does not have the courage to axe her - obviously because she is related to the owners of the company. What advise would do you have for me on how to handle her, I am getting a bit frustrated as I know 2 hardworking members in my team have been asked to leave the job at the end of the month due to "their inability to meet target" - this is false, they actually met target but we are compelled to cut salary cost, whilst this lazy lady is retained.
The workload on myself and the third staff would be dire as this lady is not configured to work! How do i cope ... I am tempted to resign at times, particularly when my boss twist our performance records to reflect that she is meeting her target when she is not. Please help.


Posted anonymously on http://confessionsnigeria.com/post/144/managing-a-difficult-colleague

Treat her exactly how your boss does since he knows her weak points and lacks the courage to fire her.

Talk to ur boss.
Ask him to demote you to her position and promote her to yours.
In this case, she will leave you alone and the safer your job will become.

THANKS.